Carbon County is moving forward with beefing up its security.

On Thursday, the county commissioners approved proposals for the installation of an electronic gate at the sally port area of the courthouse, which is located next to the entrance of the building.DP Fence of New Ringgold will supply the gate at a cost of $7,480; Palmerton Garage Doors Inc. of Palmerton will supply the operational hardware at a cost of $4,425; and McCullion's Sales and Services Inc. of Lehighton will do the electrical at a cost of $4,370.Sheriff Anthony Harvilla said that this project is part of the U.S. Marshals' security assessment that was completed last year at the county buildings."There was a recommendation to security the prisoner transport area and this electronic gate will provide that security," he said. "Right now there is no barrier to prevent anyone from going in and out of that secured area."The area in question is currently used for transporting prisoners to and from court.Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard said that the county has also hired Alicia Paving to do the blacktop work for the project."It's going to be nice, going to dress the area up," Gerhard said. "It's much needed."Harvilla said that now that the action has been taken he is hoping to start with the installation in the next few weeks.In other matters, the commissioners approved the Local Share Account grant in the amount of $125,000 for the multipurpose fire training facility project.Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the county has secured approximately $800,000 for the first phase of the $13.5-million project.This phase includes the widening of Emergency Lane to accommodate firetruck traffic, as well as stormwater runoff and site preparations.He added that the county is waiting on the permits from the state Department of Environmental Protection and hope to hear something by the end of next month.The plans initially call for the road to be constructed this fall, but Nothstein said that this may not happen, depending on when the permits are received.